Shingle finishing machine



y 1 v R. A. WlLDE 2,440,994

SHINGLE FINISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

QAvMoND A. \Nmoa BY I ATTORNEY May 4, 1948. R. A. WILDE 2,440,994

SHINGLE FINISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1945 s Sheets-Sheet 2 1 FIG-1. 2.

o c o INVENTOR. RAYMOND A. Wmoe;

ATTORNEY .May 4, 1948. wlLDE 2,440,994

snmeua FINISHING MACHINE Filed Feb. 28, 1945 :5 Shets-Sheet s F l a. 5

IN V EN TOR.

RAYMOND AWHJE.

ATTORHCY Patented May 4, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHING'LE mmsnme MACHINE Raymond A. Wilde, Everett, Wash. Application rem-am 2a, 1945, Serial No. seam 6 Claims. 1

This invention relates in general to shingles of imitation shake shingles, to have the two .side

edges of the shingle parallel and to have these edges perpendicular to, :or forming right angles with, the shingle butt. When the edgessare not parallel, or if either or both edges are not perpendicular to the butt, the proper lav-ingot the shingles on the wall or :roof surface is not only more difiicu-lt but the resulting wedge-shaped cracks between the shingles detract .from the general appearance, and this is particularly true when the exposed surface of the shingles is grooved to imitate shakes.

. Various types of machines are use for grooving the exposed .surtace lot shingles. However, I have found that even shingles which are surfaced to vimitateshake shingles ireqnent y have lateral edges winch are 'not parallel or which are not perpendicular to the butt. Since shingles are .of various widths the trimmingof the side edges presents somewhat .of a problem. This trimming can be .done by employing .a. .cutter head which is manually adjusted rorteach shingle according'to the width of thes'hingleybut {I do not regard this as the most .safii'siiactory .solution .of the problem.

An object of this invention is to provide :an improved shingle .finishingmachine in which the side edges land butt of the .shingle will be .prqperly trimmed without vmanual adjustment "of any part of the machine being required, regardless of the width .ors'ize of the shingle, thus making possible a considerable saving in time and labor.

.Another object .of this invention is .to provide an improved machine of the type above indicated in which the trimming and surfacing will he done automatically .and with a minimum (of waste.

Thave foundtha'tdffthe two-edges tof theshing'le are not :only parallel and perpendicular .to the buttgbut that if .oneof the edges is also formed with a slight, inwardly-sloping hevl. such .a bevel edge enables thesliing'les tnbe .set .closer together at the sides, with less likelihood .of .any bulging orbuckling occurring .a'sia resnltdfslig'ht lateral expansion of Jthe shingles under certain weather conditions. In other words, ;the.bevled edge more readily permits a slight compression along that edge oflthe [shingle under .snch conditions. On the .otherlhand. havin the shingles tight together at their lateral edges improves the aPPearanceot-the shingled surface and facile itates the staining or painting of such suriaee.

An additional object of this invention accord ting-1y 1.8 provide a shingle finishing machine in which at least one of the edges of. the shingle can be given a sl ght inwardly-sloping bevel.

A further object is to provide a finishingmachine which will be simple .to construct and easy d expensive to-operate a d mainta nfljheseohiects and other advantage '1 attain by combining and arran in simple elements in a machine i-n'a manner hereinafter hriefiydescrihed with reference to the accompanying drawings.

( n th draw n s:

1 ,isa diagrammatic plan view of the entire shingle finishing machine;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary front elevation o the first portion of my machine, includingthe "means for finishing .one edge and the butt, the portion shown in elevation loeing indicated Joy the line 2-2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. .3 is a fragmentary plan view of the intermediate portion or .my machine in which port on the surfacing oi the shingle face takes place;

Fig-e is a tragmentar sectional side elevation of the surfacing mechanism taken 11 line 4-4 of ,Fig. 1,;

is .a diagrammatic plan view of the last portion or my machine which the trimming of the other side edge takes place; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective viewof a shingle finished in accordance. with my invention.

The iramesuppcrt ,for the various partsof the machine ,is indicated .in general by the reference character 1.0,. The entire machine may .be considered as divided into thre parts; the first part, indicated .at ll ,in Fig. ,1, including means for finishing ,one .edge of .theishingle and means ior trimming the butt at right angle to the finished edge; the second part, indicated at I2, including the shingle surfacin mechanism; and the third part, indicated at J3, including the means tor trimming the other .side ledge of the shingle.

A.sanding.drum.,or roll 1.4 (Eige- .1'and 2) is located at the beginning ,endflof' the machine. The idmnl .1 4.1135 its surface hovered wit ndpaper or with ther suitable abrasive surfacin and :is rotated rapidly .suitable means (not shownd =in clockwise-direction viewed ,in Fig. 2,. A-.-restA3,.mounted.on.a pair of :brackets 44, attached to .the sandingdrum irame-A5..(1=.'ig. 2 is ;us,ed ior -suppor,ting the -shingle ,at. the start of .the finishing operation. Theroperator t kes .a

.shingle'fromthepile and .pla-cesiton the rest .43,

3 holding it for a moment with one edge pressed against the sanding drum in the position indicated by the broken lines S in Fig. 2. The holding of the shingle in this position against the sanding roll causes the edge against the roll to be given a bevel. Such a beveled edge is shown in the finished shingle S of Fig. 6 at 40, and will be referred to later.

With one edge of the shingle finished by the sanding roll l4 the operator then drops the shingle on to a pair of endless conveyor chains l5 (Figs. 1 and 2) with the butt or thick end of the shingle against the guide H. No further handling of the shingle is required by the operator and the finishing of the shingle proceeds automatically. The conveyor chains are driven in unison by suitable means (not shown) and carry will be in raised position only during the time the portion of the shingle which is to be grooved or faced is passingabove the cutter head and equally spaced lugs 16 which engage the finished edge of the shingle, moving the shingle forwardin the machine, that is to say, from right to left, as, viewed in Fig. 1 and from left to right, as viewed in Fig, 2. The shingle is moved over the top deck of the first part of the machine.

The next step in the finishing of the shingle is to trim the butt so that it will be exactly perpendicular to the first finished edge. For this purpose a rotary saw I9 is provided which is seecured to a shaft and which shaft is suitably and adjustably mounted so that the saw kerf will be exactly perpendicular to the finished edge. The saw 19 is rotated rapidly in the directionindicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 by suitable means (not shown). The shingle occupies the position indicated at S in Figs 1 and 2 prior to having the butt trimmed. For holding the shingle down firmly on the conveyor chains [5 .and deck 20 with its edge against a pair of lugs l6, as it is moved against and past thebutt-trimming saw I9, I provide one or more weights or bars l8 having the rear end pivotally supported and the front end free to rest on the deck or movin shingle. h

After. the butt of the shingle has been trimmed by the saw [9 the shingle continues on its way and is engaged by a pair of endless transfer chains 2i (Figs. 1 and 3) which slide the shingle rapidly onto the deck of the second p art of the machine. The shingle will now be in the position shown at S in Figs. 1 and 3. 'I'he surfacing of the face of the shingle is performed in this part of the machine. j V

A pair of endless conveyor chains'22' (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) are connected at equally spaced intervals to conveyor bars 23. These conveyor bars 23 extend ashort distance at each end beyond the conveyor chains 22 and rest onshoe supports .24 (Fig. 3) which slide along tracks 24' at either side of the deck 25. A conveyor bar 23 engages the butt end of the shingle and moves the shingle in the direction indicated by the arrow :1: in Fig. 3.

.As the shingle movesinto the position indicated at S in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, it passes under weighted rollers 26 which hold the shingle down while the bottom face is being subjected to a surfacing treatment or grooving. This grooving or surfacing is performed by a rotary cutter head 21, which carries a plurality of profile knives 28 (Fig. 4). The cutter head 21 is rotated rapidly (in counter clockwise direction asviewed in Fig; 4) by suitable means (not shown) and is rotatably supported on a pivotally mounted oscillating frame 29. When the frame 23 isin;the raised position shown in Fig.1! the profile'knives extend up through an open space in the deck 25 then will be. immediately lowered.

' 'After the bottom face of the shingle has been grooved the shingle is delivered to the third part of the. machine for the trimming of the other side edge. The shinglaafter passing under the last roller 23, drops onto thepositioning chains 35 (Figs l and 5 These positioning chains 35 are a series of parallel mounted endless chains, driven in unison transversely in' the direction indicated by the arrowy and thus move theshingle, which is now indicated at/ S against theside guide 36. At the same time a conveyor bar 34, connected to a pair of endless conveyor chains 33, moves the shingle along from left to right (as viewed in Fig. 5). When the shingle is moved beyond the positioning chains 35 it is pushed under a pair o'fspring members 3l which keep the butt end of the shingle firmly against the engaging conveyor bar' 34. In this position the shingle moves past the rotating side trimming saw 38 which is soyset as to trim the side of the shingle in a line perpendicular tothe conveyor bars 34 and thus perpendicular to the shingle butt,

The finishing of the shingle has now been completed since both sidev edges are perpendicular to the butt, with one edge beveled, and the face of the shingle has been grooved. The conveyor bar 34 pushesthe finished shingle off the end of the deck 32 whence the shingles are delivered to a suitable'container or carrier to be subsequently bundled or stained.

In Fig. 6' I show a shingle S which has been finished in my machine. The two edges 40 and 4| are both perpendicular to the plane of the butt 39. That portion of the face of theshingle which will be exposed to view on thebuilding wall has been grooved assh'own at 42. When each shingle is finished with an edge having the inwardly sloping bevel shown at 43, the shingles may be laid with their lateral edges closer together. Should the shingles have a tendency to expand to a slight degree laterally, under extreme weather conditions, the beveled edge will submit to slight compression and thus'minimize any possibility ofbuckling or. warping of the shingles as aresult of lateral compression.

It will be apparent from the foregoing description of the operation of my machine that shingles of various widths will all be finished in the same manner. Unlike other finishing machines in present use, no adjustments are necessary for shingles of different widths. Furthermore, af ter the first operation of holding the shingle with one edge against the sanding drum, no further handling of the shingle is, required by the operator. .The trimming of the. butt, the grooving of the face, and the trimming of the opposite side follow automatically, thus making possible economy in time and labor. In addition, due to the fact that no positioning of saws or edges and butt of each shingle is reduced to a,

minimum and is not dependent upon the amount of skill exercised by the operator; In fact, the operation of my machine requires practically no skill "or training on the part of the operation Many variations could of course'be madein the detailsot construction of. my machine and-m me individual parts of the same within the scope 'of mymvention. .The machine which I haven-1 lustrated and described briefly one which: I have found to be very satisfactory in actual use: However, i it is .not my intentiontc limit my vention otherwise than as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

1. In a shingle finishing machine, a butt-trimming saw, means for moving the shingle sideways against and beyond said saw and for holding the shingle with one edge perpendicular to the plane of said saw, shingle positioning means, a side guide for the shingle, said positioning means moving transversely to said guide and having engaging elements operating to move the shingle sideways until itsother side edge contacts said side guide, a side trimming saw located beyond but on the same side as said side guide, a conveyor bar for engaging the butt end of the shingle and for moving the shingle lengthwise along said guide and past said side trimming saw, the butt-engaging portion of said conveyor bar being perpendicular to the plane of said side trimming saw, and means for holding the shingle with its butt end firmly against said conveyor bar While the shingle is being moved by said bar past said side trimming saw to cause said other side edge of the shingle to be trimmed perpendicular to the butt end, whereby the finished shingle will have both side edges perpendicular to the butt regardless of the width of the shingle.

2. In a shingle finishing machine, a butt-trimming saw, means for moving the shingle sideways against and beyond said saw and for holding the shingle with one side edge perpendicular to the plane of said saw, shingle positioning chains, a side guide for the shingle, said positioning chains moving transversely to said guide and having engaging elements operating to move the shingle sideways until its other side edge contacts said side guide, a side trimming saw located beyond but on the same side as said side guide, a conveyor bar engaging the butt end of the shingle and for moving the shingle lengthwise along said guide and past said side trimming saw, the butt-engaging portion of said conveyor bar being perpendicular to the plane of said side trimming saw, and means for holding the shingle with its butt end firmly against said conveyor bar while the shingle is being moved by said bar past said side trimming saw to cause said other side edge of the shingle to be trimmed perpendicular to the butt end, wherey by the finished shingle will have both side edges perpendicular to the butt regardless of the width of the shingle.

3. In a shingle finishing machine, a butt-trimming saw, means for moving the shingle sideways against and beyond said saw and for holding the shingle with one side edge perpendicular to the plane of said saw, a surface grooving device, means for conveying the shingle lengthwise through said surface grooving device, shingle positioning means located beyond said surface grooving device, a side guide for the shingle, said positioning means moving transversely to hung saw loca beyond but on the 5 said side-guide, a conveyor bar for engaging" the butt end of thes-hmgle and for m'oving the shingle lengthwise along said'g'uide and past-said side t mining saw, the butt-en'- 'coriv'e'y'or being persee of said side trimming 'l'di ng the shingle with its tsaid conveyor bar while t V o'ved by said bar past said side tr ming saw to cause said other side edge of the shingle to be trimmed perpendicular to the butt end, whereby the finished shingle will have both side edges perpendicular to the butt regardless of the Width of the shingle.

4. A shingle finishing machine of the character described including a butt-trimming saw, means for moving the shingle sideways against and beyond said saw and for holding the shingle with one side edge perpendicular to the plane of said saw, a surface grooving device, means for conveying the shingle lengthwise through said surface grooving device, shingle positioning means located beyond said surface grooving device, a side guide for the shingle, said positioning means moving transversely to said guide and having engaging elements operating to move the shingle sideways until its other side edge contacts said side guide, a side trimming saw located beyond but on the same side as said side guide, a conveyor bar for engaging the butt end of the shingle and for moving the shingle lengthwise along said guide and past said side trimming saw, the buttengaging portion of said conveyor bar being perpendicular to the plane of said side trimming saw, and means for holding the shingle with its butt end firmly against said conveyor bar while the shingle is being moved by said bar past said side trimming saw to cause said other side edge of the shingle to be trimmed perpendicular to the butt end, whereby the finished shingle will have both side edges perpendicular to the butt regardless of the width of the shingle.

5. A shingle finishing machine including a butt-trimming saw, means for moving the shingle sideways against and beyond said saw and for holding the shingle with one side edge perpendicular to the plane of said saw, shingle positioning means, a side guide for the shingle, said positioning means moving transversely to said guide and having engaging elements operating to move the shingle sideways until its other side edge contacts said side guide, a side trimming Saw cated beyond but on the same side as said side guide, means for moving the shingle lengthwise along said guide and past said side trimming saw, and

means for holding the shingle positioned with its butt end perpendicular to the plane of said side trimming saW While the shingle is being moved past said side trimming saw, whereby the finished shingle will have both side edges perpendicular to the butt regardless of the width of the shingle.

6. A shingle finishing machine of the character described comprising a butt-trimming saw,

means for moving the shingle sideways against and beyond said saw and for holding the shingle with one side edge perpendicular to the plane of said saw, a surface grooving device, means for conveying the shingle lengthwise through said surface grooving device, shingle positioning chains located beyond said surface grooving device, a side guide for the shingle, said positioning chains moving transversely to said guide and having engaging elements operating to move the shingle sideways until its other side edge contacts 8 REFERENCES CITED The; following references are of record in the file of this patent: v

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name 7 Date 661,552 Rich Nov. 13, 1900 1,394,014 Holt Oct. 18, 1921 1,731,452 Clark Oct. 15, 1929 1,944,631 Bergstrom Jan. 23, 1234 2,031,385 Peterman et a1. Feb. 18, 1936 2,207,782 Carlson July 16, 1940 2,252,112 Bailey Aug. 12, 1941 2,273,653 Melby Feb. 17, 1942 

